Rishabh Pant attended Team India practice session recently.
In encouraging signs for Delhi Capitals, head coach Ricky Ponting hinted that Rishabh Pant will be available for the entire IPL 2024 after completing his recovery in time. The India wicketkeeper-batter was forced to stay away from cricket following a horrific car crash on December 30, 2022. He underwent knee surgery for the ligament tear that he sustained during the accident and is currently undergoing his recovery at NCA.
Pant was a part of the Delhi Capitals table in the last auction. He missed the IPL, World Cup, and a few matches in the World Test Championship. The capital franchise look confident of Pant”s return but there is no surety on the role that he will take up for the upcoming season.
“Rishabh is very confident that he”s going to be right to play. In what capacity we”re not quite sure yet. You would have seen all the social media stuff, he”s up and about and running well. But in saying that we”re only six weeks away from the first game as well. So we”re not sure if we”ll get wicketkeeping out of him this year,” Ponting said.
“But I”ll guarantee if I asked him now he”ll say, “I”m playing every game, I”m keeping every game and I”m batting at No.4.” That”s just what he”s like, but we”ll keep our fingers crossed,” he added.
Veteran Australia opener David Warner was named as the captain of Delhi Capitals in Pant”s absence. Ponting confirmed that Pant will remain the captain for his side whenever he is available to play but doesn”t wants to risk him for all the 14 matches after the life-threatening accident.
“He”s such a dynamic player. He”s obviously our captain. We missed him incredibly last year. If you understand the journey he”s been on the last 12-13 months, it was a horrific incident. One that I know he feels very lucky to have even survived, let alone have the chance to play cricket again.
“We”ll just keep our fingers crossed and hope that he can be out there and play. Even if it”s not all the games, if we can manage him through 10 of the 14 games or whatever that might be then whatever games you can get out of him will be a bonus,” Ponting said.
Delhi Capitals had a forgettable run in IPL 2023. They finished at the second last spot, winning only five games. Pant has been a part of the franchise since 2016. He has featured in 98 matches, scoring 2838 runs at an average of 34.61 with one century and 15 half-centuries to his name.
